Knowing the great care that is taken to
grow and harvest these trees by farmers
who live mostly in the western part of the
state makes me mindful of the environmental
benefi ts of live tree harvests. I love
that live trees are completely renewable and
recyclable. Every acre of Christmas trees
grown produces a daily oxygen rate for
18 people. Th ese farmers are oft en using
soil that is unsuitable for other types of
vegetation while protecting water supplies,
minimizing soil erosion, and providing
refuge for wildlife.
I have heard concerns about keeping cut
trees alive and ensuring they are safe to have
in the home. Th e North Carolina Christmas
Tree Association off ers much information
on its website and here are a few of their
suggestions specifi c to tree care:
– Use a stand that will hold a gallon of wa-
ter and check the water levels oft en. Your
tree may need as much as a gallon of water
in the fi rst 24 hours.
– Place the tree away from heat sources such
as vents, fi replaces, wood stoves, radia-
tors, and sunny windows.
– Do not overload electric circuits.
– Be sure to turn off the lights before leav-
ing home or going to bed.
I hope you are able to fi nd the perfect tree
for your family this Christmas, whether it’s
from a local seller or you take a trip to our
magnifi cent mountains to choose a tree for
yourself. I love the idea of visiting a farm
and choosing a tree to be cut down and
brought back home. For those of you looking
for a more adventurous route to fi nding
the tree of your Christmas dreams, perhaps
you will visit a farm that will take you
on horseback winding your way through
them to fi nd that special one.
Robyn Goss-Bennai is a local writer and can
be reached at robyngossbennai@gmail.com.
A special thank you to the North Carolina
Christmas Tree Association for the
information provided, and the beautiful
photo. Visit ncchristmastrees.com for more
Christmas tree information.
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